Virtual Globetrotting: Nature - Parks and Playgroundshttp://virtualglobetrotting.com/
A great way to explore everything that can be seen from space!en-usCopyright 2016Thu, 08 Sep 2016 08:26:42 -0700http://backend.userland.com/rss

(2016-09-08)Much of the western shore of the Hudson River in this area is protected by bluffs. This flat piece of land across the river from Poughkeepsie was a perfect spot for Anthony Yelverton to build a sawmill, store, ferry service, and his home in 1754. His house is still standing today at 39 Maple Avenue.

Over the next 128 years, the settlement flourished as hundreds of people lived here, and many businesses provided products to ship down the river. In 1882, a big fire destroyed much of the settlement. The town was rebuilt further up the hillside, and was named Highland.

In 2008, plans were made for the town to buy this historic riverfront property and turn it into a park. It has become a popular spot for fishermen, boaters, and picnics.

In a recent visit, I found the park to be further developed than what is seen in this 2012 street view scene.]]>

(2016-09-08)Much of the western shore of the Hudson River in this area is protected by bluffs. This flat piece of land across the river from Poughkeepsie was a perfect spot for Anthony Yelverton to build a sawmill, store, ferry service, and his home in 1754. His house is still standing today at 39 Maple Avenue.

Over the next 128 years, the settlement flourished as hundreds of people lived here, and many businesses provided products to ship down the river. In 1882, a big fire destroyed much of the settlement. The town was rebuilt further up the hillside, and was named Highland.

In 2008, plans were made for the town to buy this historic riverfront property and turn it into a park. It has become a popular spot for fishermen, boaters, and picnics.

In a recent visit, I found the park to be further developed than what is seen in this 2012 street view scene.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/highland-landing-park/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/highland-landing-park/Thu, 08 Sep 2016 09:44:59 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/highland-landing-park/41.71564790 -73.94865810

(2014-10-12)The Grand Circus Park Historic District includes Grand Circus Park in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. The district was a part of Augustus Woodward's plan to rebuild the city after the great Detroit fire of 1805, and the city established the park in 1850.

(2014-10-12)The Grand Circus Park Historic District includes Grand Circus Park in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. The district was a part of Augustus Woodward's plan to rebuild the city after the great Detroit fire of 1805, and the city established the park in 1850.

(2014-10-05)The Japanese Friendship Garden is part of Kelley Park in San Jose, California. Dedicated in October 1965, it is patterned after Korakuen Garden in Okayama, Japan. Its three interconnected main ponds were stocked with koi sent from Okayama in 1966.]]>

(2014-10-05)The Japanese Friendship Garden is part of Kelley Park in San Jose, California. Dedicated in October 1965, it is patterned after Korakuen Garden in Okayama, Japan. Its three interconnected main ponds were stocked with koi sent from Okayama in 1966.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-friendship-garden-of-san-jose/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-friendship-garden-of-san-jose/Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:58:28 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-friendship-garden-of-san-jose/37.32238200 -121.86127300

(2014-10-05)Ro Ho En, the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a joint project of the sister cities of Phoenix and Himeji, Japan. Himeji became onr og ten sister cities to Phoenix 1976.]]>

(2014-10-05)Ro Ho En, the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a joint project of the sister cities of Phoenix and Himeji, Japan. Himeji became onr og ten sister cities to Phoenix 1976.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-friendship-garden-of-phoenix/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-friendship-garden-of-phoenix/Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:58:27 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-friendship-garden-of-phoenix/33.46117600 -112.07582400

(2014-10-05)Hakone Gardens is a Japanese garden in Saratoga, California. In 1916, San Francisco arts patrons, Oliver and Isabel Stine, set about building a summer retreat which became Hakone Gardens. Inspired by her trips to Japan, Isabel Stine modeled the gardens after Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The gardens passed through a number of hands until it was abandoned in 1959. In 1961, a private group of friends bought the gardens and restored them to their original splendor.

Also seen here at VG: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/hakone-gardens/]]>

(2014-10-05)Hakone Gardens is a Japanese garden in Saratoga, California. In 1916, San Francisco arts patrons, Oliver and Isabel Stine, set about building a summer retreat which became Hakone Gardens. Inspired by her trips to Japan, Isabel Stine modeled the gardens after Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The gardens passed through a number of hands until it was abandoned in 1959. In 1961, a private group of friends bought the gardens and restored them to their original splendor.

(2014-10-05)The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California, is par of Golden Gate Park, and was originally built as part of1894 World's Fair. After the conclusion of the World's Fair, Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant and gardener, approached the superintendent of the Golden Gate Park with the idea to convert the temporary exhibit into a permanent park. Hagiwara oversaw building of the Japanese Tea Garden and was the caretaker from 1895 to 1925 (his death). The Hagiwara family lived in and maintained the garden until 1942, when World War Two forced them to leave San Francisco and relocate to an internment camp.]]>

(2014-10-05)The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California, is par of Golden Gate Park, and was originally built as part of1894 World's Fair. After the conclusion of the World's Fair, Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant and gardener, approached the superintendent of the Golden Gate Park with the idea to convert the temporary exhibit into a permanent park. Hagiwara oversaw building of the Japanese Tea Garden and was the caretaker from 1895 to 1925 (his death). The Hagiwara family lived in and maintained the garden until 1942, when World War Two forced them to leave San Francisco and relocate to an internment camp.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-tea-garden-of-san-francisco/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-tea-garden-of-san-francisco/Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:58:24 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/japanese-tea-garden-of-san-francisco/37.77009200 -122.47026100

(2014-10-05)Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is on the campus of California State University, Long Beach, California. It was designed by Ed Lovell, landscape master plan architect for the University, and dedicated in 1981.]]>

(2014-10-05)Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is on the campus of California State University, Long Beach, California. It was designed by Ed Lovell, landscape master plan architect for the University, and dedicated in 1981.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/earl-burns-miller-japanese-garden/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/earl-burns-miller-japanese-garden/Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:58:22 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/earl-burns-miller-japanese-garden/33.78526800 -118.11968400

(2014-10-05)Anderson Japanese Gardens are located in Rockford, Illinois. Inspired by John R. Anderson's trips to Japan, and his visit to the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon, Anderson hired landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu to design and build these gardens on the property where Anderson had a home.]]>

(2014-10-05)Anderson Japanese Gardens are located in Rockford, Illinois. Inspired by John R. Anderson's trips to Japan, and his visit to the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon, Anderson hired landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu to design and build these gardens on the property where Anderson had a home.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/anderson-japanese-gardens/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/anderson-japanese-gardens/Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:58:20 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/anderson-japanese-gardens/42.29023700 -89.05805000

(2014-09-24)Saigō Takamori (Takanaga) (January 23, 1828 – September 24, 1877) was an influential samurai in during the the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era in Japan. He is most noted for leading the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 in which he fought the new Japanese imperial government after they embraced capitialism and among other things, made the samurai obsolete. The rebellion was crushed at the Battle of Shiroyama and legend states Saigō committed seppuku before he could be captured. The loss was also effectively the end of the samurai class. Saigō was labled as a tragic hero and was posthumously pardoned by Emperor Meiji on February 22, 1889.

The 2004 movie, "The Last Samurai" staring Ken Watanabe as Saigō is loosely based on the Satsuma Rebellion]]>

(2014-09-24)Saigō Takamori (Takanaga) (January 23, 1828 – September 24, 1877) was an influential samurai in during the the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era in Japan. He is most noted for leading the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 in which he fought the new Japanese imperial government after they embraced capitialism and among other things, made the samurai obsolete. The rebellion was crushed at the Battle of Shiroyama and legend states Saigō committed seppuku before he could be captured. The loss was also effectively the end of the samurai class. Saigō was labled as a tragic hero and was posthumously pardoned by Emperor Meiji on February 22, 1889.

The 2004 movie, "The Last Samurai" staring Ken Watanabe as Saigō is loosely based on the Satsuma Rebellion]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/saiga-takamori-the-last-true-samurai/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/saiga-takamori-the-last-true-samurai/Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:48:11 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/saiga-takamori-the-last-true-samurai/35.71184300 139.77402300

(2014-09-14)This park is named after the industrialist John Hendry, a Canadian lumber barron who died in 1916.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/john-hendry-park/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/john-hendry-park/Sun, 14 Sep 2014 17:09:38 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/john-hendry-park/49.25579900 -123.06109000

(2014-09-14)The Bloedel Floral Conservatory is a conservatory and aviary located at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park, in Vancouver B.C. It boasts over 200 bird species and 500 plant spcies (give or take). Built through a donation from Prentice Bloedel, the conservatory was dedicated at its opening in 1969 “to a better appreciation and understanding of the world of plants."

Also seen here at VG: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/bloedel-floral-conservatory/]]>

(2014-09-14)The Bloedel Floral Conservatory is a conservatory and aviary located at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park, in Vancouver B.C. It boasts over 200 bird species and 500 plant spcies (give or take). Built through a donation from Prentice Bloedel, the conservatory was dedicated at its opening in 1969 “to a better appreciation and understanding of the world of plants."

(2014-09-14)The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden was constructed between 1985 and 1986 with design help from Chinese garden experts from the Landscape Architecture Company of Suzhou, China. The climate in Vancouver is similar to that of Suzhou, and so many of the same plantings are found in this garden as in its Suzhou counterparts.]]>

(2014-09-14)The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden was constructed between 1985 and 1986 with design help from Chinese garden experts from the Landscape Architecture Company of Suzhou, China. The climate in Vancouver is similar to that of Suzhou, and so many of the same plantings are found in this garden as in its Suzhou counterparts.]]>http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/dr-sun-yat-sen-classical-chinese-garden/
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/dr-sun-yat-sen-classical-chinese-garden/Sun, 14 Sep 2014 17:01:20 -0700http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/dr-sun-yat-sen-classical-chinese-garden/49.27971200 -123.10368700